Star Wars: The High Republic: Quest for the Hidden City
STAR WARS THE HIGH REPUBLIC QUEST OF THE JEDI
IT is a time of great exploration. In an effort to unite the galaxy, the Chancellors of the Republic, working alongside the courageous and wise Jedi Knights, have dispatched dozens of PATHFINDER TEAMS into the farthest reaches of the Outer Rim.
But it is also a time of great uncertainty. Communication is unreliable, and tall tales of mysterious planets and monstrous creatures abound. Prospectors and pirates roam the frontier, and the worlds of Eiram and E’ronoh are locked in a FOREVER WAR.
And on the far-off planet of DALNA, a new threat to the galaxy is beginning to emerge….
Author: George Mann
Release date: November 1, 2022
Pages: 240
After receiving a garbled distress call from a fellow Pathfinder team, Jedi Knight Silandra Sho and her Padawan, Rooper Nitani are despatched to the dual worlds of Aubadas and the ravaged Gloam to find the missing team members.
Elsewhere on the dark and sinister Gloam a hyperspace prospector and his son are stranded after fallen victim to treachery. By day they struggle for provisions and by night they fight for survival as they subjected to nightly attacks by hideous and dark monsters rabidly intent on devouring the father and son.
The first junior novel of the second Phase of The High Republic really pushes the boundaries on what can be defined as a junior novel. It’s easily the darkest and most violent that I’ve read so far with Star Wars veteran George Mann, using his horror chops (see his wonderful short story collection Star Wars: Dark Legends) to really add a layer of terror more akin to Death Troopers for youngsters rather than anything from The High Republic (with the exception of maybe The Fallen Star).
As with the previous High Republic Junior novels, this book tells it’s own story that is only loosely linked to the overarching narrative of the YA and Adult novels. I imagine Quest for the Hidden City and the upcoming Quest for Planet X by Tessa Gratton will be a similar one-two punch to Phase 1’s Vernestra Rwoh duology by Justina Ireland, giving younger readers their own tale to follow without having to dip their tiny toes into the larger, and frankly brutal, High Republic universe.It’s a fun ride but one that didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by the previous works purely on the basis that, with the exception of Dass, I found the characters to be a little thin. Rooper’s struggles with the responsibility of being a Jedi is too close to Vern’s troubles of being a young Knight to be compelling. It doesn’t necessarily detract from the story but it stopped it becoming one of my favorites so far. In a series with so many great and memorable characters, Rooper is just too close to Vern, Lula and others to really land. I’m looking forward to Dass’ continuing journey though as I found it hard not to connect to him and the horrors he experienced.
The twin planets of Aubadas and Gloam are memorable and dynamic new locations that Mann injects with an admirable level of personality and atmosphere. Gloam, in particular, stands out as the staging ground for Mann’s carnival of terrors. Similarly the new species of Katikoot are an interesting addition to the galaxy that feel somewhat unique as well as the less friendly inhabitants of Gloam. It’s definitely Star Wars and it follows books like A New Dawn, Ahsoka and Spark of the Resistance in that it tells the story of a new locale and it’s indigenous population and it’s struggle against subjugation and adversity.
All In all a solid entry to the canon but perhaps not one that people will be talking about much in the years to come. I definitely want to see more from Mann, especially if he leans into his talent for horror. There’s some genuinely terrifying moments here, and that’s worth applauding.
Sale
Star Wars: The High Republic: Quest for the Hidden City (Star Wars: The High Republic (Middle Grade))
- Hardcover Book
- Mann, George (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 304 Pages - 11/01/2022 (Publication Date) - Random House/Star Wars (Publisher)
$9.39
Buy on Amazon
This is a paid link. Learn More.
Price incl. tax, excl. shipping. Details correct as at: 2025-10-01
